Sept 21 continued lots of photos

I'm going to add lots of photos of this evening... most from this evening below but also from earlier today and yesterday when Birdie arrived so if you've already looked at those posts you may want to have another peak!

Team Canada enroute to parade of nations

The first sputtering of rain since our arrival ... not looking great for tomorrow's races

Paraduathlon, Elite/U23 (Sunday forecast not as bad but keeps changing)

My Birdie in front of Cathedral

Joyce Chiang (Triathlon Canada) briefing Team Canada about change to run course (bike course has changed a couple of times)... all sorts of strange and stressful ITU rules that we're hearing about for the first time that if broken can mean being disqualified some specific to Nancy some standard.  

With Mirelle from Saint John, NB

 

Just noticing Birdie on a perfect perch for photos!

 

Presenting Team Canada - World Duathlon Championship 2012 - Nancy, France

We would have won best team turnout award and wow! factor

from other nations and residents of Nancy

 

 

Some of the gals from Team South Africa ... we are staying at the same hotel

They and other teams commented that Canada always is the best dressed at international sporting events!

 

 

Team Canada during announced and enters Place Stanislas - an hugely proud moment for us all!

Halifax Triathlon club member & now Team Canada member - Brian McBarron handed out Canadian flag pins and I handed out soon to be obsolete Canadian pennies much to the delight of children along the parade route!

Team Venezuela

 

Team Russia flag bearer

 

Team Netherlands

 

Team New Zealand

 

Team South Africa

 

Team Great Britain and Team Germany

 

Team France

 

Yes there were more teams at the parade - these are the best shots of the bunch AND a number of teams were no shows AND a number of teams like the USA and GBR had low numbers turn out. All likely due in part to the weather but also if they are racing in the morning. Our attendance was mandatory - for the brief scary briefing and official team photo. We have an official photographer who took a great shot of the team with all their family and friends ... Diana and I are side by side in clear view so it will be another wonderful momento to look forward to in the weeks ahead. 

 

The rain began to increase in intensity as we gathered in the square - the event was declared opened and all the teams made their way to awaiting buses to go to the Pasta Party at a local Stadium.

 

Alas, as you know I cannot eat wheat so Birdie and I began to hunt for a place nearby to eat. We had ducked in to look at a menu at the same time as two local ladies who were very interested in the festivities on the weekend. I chatted to them for quite a while - Diana catching bits and pieces of the conversation. I took advantage of this chance meeting to ask their advice re: where to eat. They explained that they are neighbours. They dine out every Friday night. They walked us to a street closed to traffic with nothing but restaurants of all cuisines. They said they would come cheer me on Sunday and I gave them my Canadian flag. We thanked them - they said they would pray that the rain stopped for all the racers. Very lovely women. A perfectly timed encounter. 

 

 

After browsing at a few menus we agreed that our obvious preference was French cuisine so we looked for a found a restaurant with a menu we liked and that appeared to be popular with locals. We choose very well! At first, the waiter seemed a little stand-off ish but I soon won him over by using the oldest trick in the book. I asked him, given my food allergies, to select his favourite items from the menu of appetizer, main course and dessert for 18 euros.

Diana immediately noticed the change in his attitude.

 

Appetizers - Diana had soup and I had a salad.

 

This is Diana's main course - a pasta carbonnera (funny, she didn't eat the raw egg) 

 

My choices were limited. It was the first solid food for me in over 24 hours so I didn't want to push my luck. I had chicken with herbs, roasty potatoes (couldn't finish either but it was tasty)

 

 

In the end, our waiter and the chef went off menu to not only accomodate my diet but to enhance our experience. We had a ball - laughing, catching up on the past couple of days, life, etc. It was a lovely meal, perfect atmosphere to end a full, satisfying and memorable day!

Neither of us were interested in the dessert choices as they were... Diana was craving chocolate and got her wish with a chocolate pastry warmed and served with chocolate sauce. I had Goat's cheese with more salad (come to think of it I had salad with everything - no complaints!)

A treat for us on the house - a local specialty a Royal Mirabelle! Sparkling wine not too sweet with a mirabelle fruit in the bottom which was like a cross between a lycee fruit and apricot in flavour and texture.

 

Cheers!

 

I took a card as a souvenir and another that I posted on the team message board.

Restaurant La Table Gourmande

19, rue de Maréchaux, Nancy

 

The finale was walking through Place Stanislas on our way back to our hotels via the Ibis to pickup something to help me sleep as prescribed by the team physician. Then to mine to download these photos from Diana's memory card, give her some coffee and bottled water for the morning since everything was closed. Diana arrived safe and sound. Time for some sweet dreams!

à demain!